A hand held electronic data organizer which may conveniently serve as a portable key chain device. The organizer includes a housing which contains internal electronic components such as a microprocessor coupled to a data memory. These internal components are electronically coupled to external electronic components of the housing such as an input arrangement, for entering alphanumeric data into the data memory, and a display, for displaying such data recalled from the data memory. The organizer also includes a backlight for illuminating the display, and a flashlight element for projecting a beam of light outside of the housing. The invention preferably includes a key chain attachment implement for attaching keys and the like to the housing.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A pocket sized hand held electronic data organizer which comprises: a) a pocket sized housing; b) a microprocessor within the pocket sized housing which is coupled to a data memory; c) an input arrangement coupled to the microprocessor which is capable of inputting alphanumeric data into the data memory via the microprocessor; d) a display coupled to the microprocessor which is capable of visually displaying alphanumeric data recalled from the data memory via the microprocessor; e) a flashlight within the pocket sized housing, which is capable of projecting a beam of light outside of the pocket sized housing; f) a backlight within the pocket sized housing which is capable of backlighting the display; and g) a switch on the pocket sized housing capable of illuminating each of the flashlight and the backlight.
2. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the switch on the pocket sized housing is capable of simultaneously illuminating each of the flashlight and the backlight.
3. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the pocket sized housing further comprises a key attachment implement for attaching keys to the pocket sized housing.
4. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the flashlight comprises a light source and a lens, and wherein the backlight comprises a light reflector, such that a portion of light emitted from the light source is reflected by the light reflector to backlight the display, and another portion of light emitted from the light source is directed through the lens to project a beam of light outside of the pocket sized housing.
5. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the input arrangement comprises at least one depressible key.
6. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display.
7. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the switch comprises a depressible button.
8. The method of claim 3 wherein the key attachment implement comprises a loop molded to the pocket sized housing.
9. A key chain device which comprises: a) a pocket sized housing; b) a microprocessor within the pocket sized housing which is coupled to a data memory; c) an input arrangement coupled to the microprocessor which is capable of inputting alphanumeric data into the data memory via the microprocessor; d) a display coupled to the microprocessor which is capable of visually displaying alphanumeric data recalled from the data memory via the microprocessor; e) a flashlight within the pocket sized housing, which is capable of projecting a beam of light outside of the pocket sized housing; f) a backlight within the pocket sized housing which is capable of backlighting the display; g) a switch on the pocket sized housing capable of illuminating each of the flashlight and the backlight; and h) a key attachment implement attached to said pocket sized housing for attaching keys to the pocket sized housing.
10. The key chain device of claim 9 wherein the switch on the pocket sized housing is capable of simultaneously illuminating each of the flashlight and the backlight.
11. The device of claim 9 wherein the flashlight comprises a light source and a lens, and wherein the backlight comprises a light reflector, such that a portion of light emitted from the light source is reflected by the light reflector to backlight the display, and another portion of light emitted form the light source is directed through the lens to project a beam of light outside of the pocket sized housing.
12. The device of claim 9 wherein the input arrangement comprises at least one depressible key.
13. The device of claim 9 wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display.
14. The device of claim 9 wherein the switch comprises a depressible button.
15. The device of claim 9 wherein the key attachment implement comprises a loop molded to the pocket sized housing.
16. A method for organizing data which comprises: a) providing a pocket sized electronic data organizer which comprises: i) a pocket sized housing; ii) a microprocessor within the pocket sized housing which is coupled to a data memory; iii) an input arrangement coupled to the microprocessor which is capable of inputting alphanumeric data into the data memory via the microprocessor; iv) a display coupled to the microprocessor which is capable of visually displaying a alphanumeric data recalled from the data memory via the microprocessor; v) a flashlight within the pocket sized housing, which is capable of projecting a beam of light outside of the pocket sized housing; vi) a backlight within the pocket sized housing which is capable of backlighting the display; and vii) a switch on the pocket sized housing capable of illuminating each of the flashlight and the backlight; b) entering alphanumeric data into the data memory via the microprocessor; and c) recalling such entered alphanumeric data from the data memory via the microprocessor.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the switch on the pocket sized housing is capable of simultaneously illuminating each of the flashlight and the backlight.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the pocket sized housing further comprises a key attachment implement for attaching keys to the pocket sized housing.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the flashlight comprises a light source and a lens, and wherein the backlight comprises a light reflector, such that a portion of light emitted from the light source is reflected by the light reflector to backlight the display, and another portion of light emitted from the light source is directed through the lens to project a beam of light outside of the pocket sized housing.
20. The method of claim 16 wherein the input arrangement comprises at least one depressible key.
21. The method of claim 16 wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display.
22. The method of claim 16 wherein the switch comprises a depressible button.
23. The method of claim 16 wherein the key attachment implement comprises a loop molded to the pocket sized housing.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
June 11, 2001
January 7, 2003
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